Monday, June 23, 2014

Our annual summer Vacation Bible School started this morning, in the middle of a Texas thunderstorm!

We were worried that it would be a slow day . . . with parents keeping kids at home because of the bad weather.

What were we thinking??? Kid's are still coming in!

I've got morning Assembly duties this year . . . playing the part of Assembly Leader "Sandy Paper" playing opposite of "Rivet the Ant" played by Pastor Nathan. At the closing assembly, I will have guitar in hand to lead the children and volunteers in a time of worship and praise.

Going to be fun.

One of my absolutely most favorite times of the year . . . always has been and always will be.

I was singing this morning for the residents at the South Colleyvine Ranch in Grapevine. I was about done with my program, my voice was about gone, and my new "Father's Day shoes" were hurting my feet.

"Rick . . . before you go . . . please do an old gospel song!"

How can you refuse a sweet dear lady in her 80's who asks you to do a gospel song? I don't know about you, but I can't refuse such a request.

So, more so because I was pretty tired . . . I started a slow version of His Eye is On the Sparrow.

And . . . it happened again . . . I could see the healing in the eyes and on the faces of many in the room. On this particular morning . . . on this particular day . . . this particular song, that wouldn't have been sung unless someone had asked . . . was the song that touched everyone there in a way that I will never ever be able to adequately describe with words.

But then I don't have to . . . because I believe most everyone has had a similar experience in their lives with music of some kind.

Healing that cone from music, for me, has a lot to do with feeling . . . and perhaps I was needing this song as much as those who had come to hear me sing . . . the one who comes once a month to offer an hour's diversion from regular daily emptiness or loneliness . . . an hour's diversion from the normal task of "waiting for God" as one resident recently told me.

I sing because I'm happyI sing because I'm freeFor His eye is on the sparrowAnd I know He's watching me.

Thursday, June 12, 2014

This is the definition of TME that I was taught during my certification training time with the gang at Hugworks.

Short, simple . . . to the point.

As I get older, the idea/concept of promoting healing through music takes up a lot of the time I spend thinking about important life stuff.

Actually, just the idea of promoting healing ... however, whenever and wherever I can ... takes up a lot of my thinking time. In fact, it's taking up a lot of my personal and professional time.

I currently sing at 4 area assisted living centers each month. This month I will also lead worship at two of these assisted living centers. Seeing the smiles on people's faces as they engage a song through singing, hand clapping or dancing . . . is therapeutic for me. My experience is that TME promotes healing in many ways to many people for many various reasons ... To the ones entertaining and to the ones being entertained.

What kind of healing and how the healing takes place . . . I will leave that all to God.

I sometimes work out theology like math problems. I had the following equation in one of my journals a while back:

Music + Worship = Healing

Actually the words I had written down were "music + worship (should) = healing.

Worship, for some, is a time when they expect to be set straight, or "guilted" back into doing what is right, more often according to someone else's opinion of what is right and correct.

How is that therapeutic? How does that promote the process of healing? How does that help anyone come to know God as a loving Lord?

John Wesley suggested 3 general rules (simple rules) for all believers associated with the then Methodist movement in England. They are good guides for us today.

1) Do no harm (that would seem, to me, to promote and facilitate the possibility of healing)

2) Do good (that would seem, to me, to also promote and facilitate the opportunity for healing as well)

3) The regular practice of those things that help you get and stay close to God (it seems to me that being in God's presence would promote the possibility of healing for mind, body and soul).

Hopefully, in the coming weeks, I want to learn more about how my life, and how I live it, can be an instrument of healing, especially through music, pastoral care, teaching, preaching, engaging people when they are grief or in pain . . . that can help improve people's lives in new and fresh ways.

I'm ok with being a diversion . . . if it helps to promote healing in some way.

I'm ok with being an amusement . . . if it helps to promote healing in some way.

I'm even ok with helping others smile . . . if it helps to promote healing in some way.

It was confirmed last night that Tom Petty died after being found in his home unresponsive and in full cardiac arrest. Tom and the Heartb...

THANKS FOR DROPPING IN . . .

Rick's Song Bag . . .

is the blog of Rev. Rick Mang, a United Methodist clergyman who lives in Texas where he serves as pastor of a church in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Rick is also a Certified Therapeutic Music Entertainer who sings for senior adults in area nursing, rehab and retirement homes, and in senior activity centers. Rick also sings for different church and community groups and events as his schedule allows.

For more information about Therapeutic Music Entertainment, singing to senior adults, or to start a music conversation, please email Rick at revrickmang@gmail.com.

I have been blessed to have had several mentors along my life's journery. Joe Laughlin was one of them. Joe was my "adopted" big brother, best friend, guitar and vocal mentor, and fellow Christian folk philospher. I miss him.

CHILDREN'S WORSHIP CD

Rick still has copies of his Children's Worship CD ... contact him by email at revrickmang@gmail.com to get a copy! Postage paid in the US. Donations are accepted. Free if that's how you want it.

Would you like to share your story about your favorite musical instrument?

I am soliciting stories about people and their favorite instruments to make music with. If you would like to share your story, then please contact me at revrickmang@gmail.com. I will get back with you to soon.

DISCLAIMER . . .

It goes without saying . . .

The thoughts, opinions, ideas, stories, meditations, prayers, and other information written anywhere on this blog are usually my own ramblings and responses to things I have seen, heard, read or witnessed. I write out of the ever changing and conflicted struggle that exists between my head and my heart as I try to live out my life mission in the best and most productive way I can.

What I write or share in no way reflects the views of any church, denomination, political party, friend, relative, writer, musical group, musician friend, artist, fishing buddy, fellow hiker, walker, other blogger, city, state, county, nation, or for that matter anybody else you possibly could ever hope to think of.

Sometimes, the words and thoughts of others are so well written, and touch me so deeply, that I am moved to share them. When and if I share the words and thoughts of others, I honestly try to give and acknowledge appropriate credit, and will do so if you bring it to my attention that I haven't.